Crossbow gun



Patented Mar. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE of three-.tenths toG. E. `Erickson and threetenths to Emil `Berglund,` both of Minneapolis,

Minn.

Application-April 30, 1941,'Seria1 No. 391,027

7 Olaims.

This invention relates to a toy gun.

Itis one of the objects of the invention to provide a novel andimprovedtoy gun of cheapand simple 'construction which is so constructedthat it may shoot 4a soit ball such as a ball Vmade from sponge rubberand which ball as `projectedn'orn the gun may `strike such delicateobjects as glass, bric-a-brac, etc., without damaging the same.

Another object is to provide in a toy gun a barrel and a ball projectingplunger working therein so constructed that the plunger may iforce asoit rubber ball, such as "a sponge rubber ball, through the barrelwithout causing such lateral expansion oi the ball as willprevent itiromireely working through the barrel.

r A further object is to provide a. novel and-improved toy cross bowgun, the'parts of which can be readily knocked down for shipment insmall compass and the parts of which can be very easily assembled by theconsignee.

Stillanother object is to provide a cross bow gun having a novel andimproved mechanism of cheap and simple construction for retaining andreleasing the bow string of the cross bow.

The objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear fromthe following description made in connection` with the accompanyingdrawing wherein like reference characters refer to theV same or similarparts throughout the various' views and in which- Fig. 1 is a planviewof a cross bow gun embodying the invention, certain of the partsbeing shown in the position they ywill assume after the gun hasbeenilred in full lines and certain oi the parts being shown in positionready :for firing of the gun in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is avertie-al section taken on the imei-2 of Fig.` 1 as indicatedby the arrows;

. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevationof thegun with certain of thepartsbroken Vaway and shown in section to more clearly-illustrate theconstruction thereof;

Fig. 4 is a verticalsection taken on the line -4-4 of Fig. 3; and l Fig.5 `illustrates a soft ball that may be used with the gun, part of theball being broken away and shown in section.

In accordance with the invention a cross bow gun is provided having acylindrical barrel fr open at its forward end, the rearportion of thebarrel joining a stock 'l having` a shape corresponding to the stock ofan ordinary gun. Inv the illustrated embodiment the barrel and stock Siand l are shown as being formed of metall `from two parts, i. e., rightand left handsections and the two parts are equipped with upper andlower pro je'cting anges 3 which are secured together as by spotwelding.At the forward nd of the barrel 6, two circular flanges 8 are'providedwhich conjointly form a bow holding groove Ii! which is interrupted onlyby the anges 3 which extend across the groove. From `points adjacent theforward end 'oi the Ibarrel 5 to points adjacent the rear part of thebarrel opposed longitudinal slots I I are cut in the sides of the barrelfor the purpose of receiving a bow string. Apertures I2 are cut inthesides of the barrel E to join the rear ends of `theslots `I`I` andconjointly Vforni therewith bow `string retaining shoulders i5 which areset preferably normal to the general direction of extension of Ythelongitudinal slots I I.

`A fork-like camming trigger I4 is provided and this trigger 'has afinger piece which extends downwardly Vbelow the ybarrel 5 adjacent therear ends of the slots I l and the trigger has upwardly extending armscarrying pivot pins i5 which are received within -pin openings formed inthe bar rel 6. Above the pivots i5 the arms curve upwardiy andrearwardly to form cams Illa for releasing `the vbow string when it isengaged and held `by theshoulders I3. f

Loosely working within the barrel tof the gun is a 'ball projector orplunger Iii of cylindrical shape. Used with the gun is a soit ball Ilpreferably made of a highly resiiient material such as sponge rubber.This ball Il is of such size as to freely nt within the barrel of thegun. To

take the ball I'l andprevent lateral expansion of the soit materialforming the ball as the ball is moved violently forwardly in the barrelby the plunger` I6, the plunger IE at its forward end. as best shown inFig. 3, is provided with a ball- Y receiving concave recess Ilia curvedto conform to` a portion of the spherical surface of the ball Il. Theplunger It is also provided `with a transverse bow string receivingopening or slot lh which is of considerably greater length fore and aftof the plunger than the diameter of the bow string which is adapted tobe received through the said aperture.

The bow for the gun is preferably lformed by two spring wires I3 whichextend side by side throughout most of their lengths. These wires i orbow members I8 have eyes IBo at `their outer ends and they are securedtogether near their outer ends in side by side reiation by smallencirclingrbands I9. At theirjintermediate portions the two bow membersIl'are concavely bent away from each other to form semi-circular barrelembracing portions I8b which are adapted to be releasably tted in to thegroove l at the forward end Vof the barrel. To prevent turning movementof the bow members relative to the barrel each embracing portion Ib atits central part is equipped with an outwardly deformed part v itc totake the portions of the ribs which extend across the groove iii.Adjacent the embracing portionsib the two wires or cross bow members i3are encircled by sliding rings 20 which are used for tightly drawing theembracing portions i819 into the groove it after the rings have beenslid over` oppositely projecting deformations i3d formed on the wires i8in closely spaced outward relation from the embracing portions v i8b. Abow string 2l which may consist preferably of a wire cable or heavy cordis fastened at its two ends to the eyes d8a of the bow members i8 toextend across between such ends and distort the bow members into thewell known bow shape under some spring tension.

The bow gun will preferably be shipped in knocked down condition withthe bow. members i8 detached from the barrel 5 of the gun and with thebow string 2i disconnected from therbow members and preferably with thebow members extending longitudinally of the barrel 6 of the gun. Whenthus assembled the parts of the gun can be boxed in small compass andinexpensively shipped to destination. In assembling the gun the tworings 2i? will be slid toward the outer ends of the bow memberswhereupon the embracing portions ISD of the bow members will be slippedover the end of the barrel S'of the gun to fit between the two flangesEl within the groove Iii. lThe two rings 2S will then be slid inwardlyover the deformedporti-ons 18d to tightly secure the bow in place on thebarrel whereupon the portions ic will prevent turning or twistingmovement of the bow relative to the barrel 6, The bow string 2i is thenpassed through the bow string slots li and the bow string aperture lb ofthe plunger iii andthe ends -of the bow string are secured to the eyesIta of the bow members. The gun is now assembled and ready for use.

In using the gun one of the soft balls i? is placed within the barrel 6of the gun through the open forward end of the same. The bow string 2lis'then grasped and pulled rearwardly to the rear ends of the slots Iiinto the apertures l2 and pressed downwardly slightly to cause the bowstring to engage the shoulders I3. Of coursey as the bow string ispulled back the plunger l moves to the rear of the barrel and as the gunwill be held with its muzzle end elevated as it is cocked, the ball il'will follow the plunger Iii to the rear part of theV barrel of the gun.To shoot the gun the stock 'E is carried to the shoul- Vder and thefinger portion of the trigger ifi is pressed rearwardly. The cams isa ofthe trigger as this occurs lift the central portion of the bow string 2!above the shoulders i3 into alignment with the longitudinal slots Il.The resiliency of the bow violently causes the bow string 2i to be movedforwardly through the barrel 6, and of course, the plunger i6, moveswith the bow string and projects the ball il violently forwardly throughthe barrel to protect it therefrom in the aimed direction. After thestring 2i reaches about the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of theYdrawings the4 plunger iii can carry forwardly siderably greater widthfore and aft the plunger than the diameter of the string 2| there islittle danger of the cutting of the bow string by the portions of thesides of the barrel 6 which close the forward ends of the slots I I.

By reason of the fact that a large part of the surface of the ball Il'is contacted by the plunger I6 during forward movement of the ball andplunger, the ball although of soft material does `not distort or spreadlaterally in the barrel as it is projected forwardly whereby the ballwill move freely through the barrel. If the plunger 'i6 were notprovided with the recess la the ball being made of soft material wouldexpand laterally so as to. frictionally engage the side walls of thebarrel to such an extent as to choke the movement of the ball andplunger.

As the ball is made of soft material such as sponge rubber the gun maybe'aimed directly at y light glass or other frangible objects and yetVas the ball strikes such an object breakage will not occur. Accordinglythe gun makes an ideal toy for use by children in the house or the like.Of course, the gun may also be used for shooting hard balls su-ch asstones or the like if desired and it will carry a long distance in trueflight.

It will be seen that an inexpensive and eicient toy gun has beenprovided which will carry out the objects set forth.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various partswithout departure from the scope of the present invention which,generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and setforth in th appended claims. Y

What is claimed is:

l. A toy gun comprising a barrel having a forward open end and a rearportion, a plunger working within said barrel, a cross bow mounted atthe forward end of said barrel, a bow string running between the twoends of said bow, said barrel having facing longitudinal slots thereinthrough which said bow string Vextends and said plunger having a crossslot of considerably greater width fore and aft the plunger than thediameter of said bow string and through which cross slot said bow stringalso extends.

` 2. A cross bow gun comprising a barrel having a forward open end anda'rear portion, a plunger working within said barrel and having aforward end with a concave recess therein to take and carry a ball, abow mounted at the forward end of said barrel, a bow string extendingbetween and connecting the ends of said bow, said barrel having oppositelongitudinal slots therein through Y which said bow string extends, saidplunger havsomewhat beyond this position to expel the ball from therecess ita in the plunger whereupon the plunger is resiliently stoppedin its forwardV travel by the bow string 2i itself. As the bow ving across slot therein of considerably greater width fore and aft theplunger than vthe diameter of said bow string and said bow stringextending through said cross slot.

3. A cross bow gun comprising a barrel, a plunger working within saidbarrel, a pair of bow spring members, said bow spring members havingcentral oppositely concaved embracing portions for releasable engagementwith the forward part of the barrel, means for releasably vclamping saidbow spring members together to tightly engage the barrel, a bow stringsecured to vand extending between the ends of. said bow spring members,Ysaid barrel 'having longitudinal slots Vtherein through which said bowstring ex-l tendsv and said plunger having a cross opening preventingturning movement of said bow spring members relative to said barrel.

5. A cross bow gun comprising a barrel, a pair of cross bow membersassembled along side of each other so that similar ends of said membersproject outwardly from the sides of said barrel, said cross bow membershaving central oppositely concaved portions embracing the forward partof the barrel, a pair of slip ring members encircling the two cross bowmembers at the two sides of said barrel, said cross bow members beingslightly oppositely distorted outwardly from the normal positions ofsaid ring members to releasably retain said ring members in positionafter being slid inwardly over the distorted portions and a bow stringconnected to and extending between the ends of said cross bow members.

6. A cross bow gun comprising a substantially cylindrical barrel havingan open forward end and a rear portion, a pair of cross bow membersassembled along side of each other so that similar ends of said membersproject outwardly from the sides of said barrel, said cross bow membershaving central oppositely concaved embracing portions for releasableengagement with the forward part of the barrel, means for releasablyclamping said bow spring members together to tightly engage the barrel,a bow string secured to and extending between the ends of said bowstring members, said barrel having longitudinal slots therein throughwhich said bow string extends, a plunger working within said barrel,said plunger having a cross opening through which said bow stringextends, said barrel having openings in its side at its rear `portioncommunicating with the rear ends of vsaid slots and cooperating withsaid slots to form bow string retaining shoulders at the rear nds ofsaid slots and trigger means for releasing said bow string from saidshoulders.

7. A cross bow gun comprising a barrel having a forward open end andarear portion and having a circular externalv groove at its forwardportion, a plunger working within saidbarrel, a bow having a centralcurved portion releasably received within said circular groove toconnect the bow with said barrel, with portions of the bow projecting ateither` side of the barrel, the sides of said barrel having longitudinalslots thereinand said plunger havinga cross opening therein, a bowstring connecting the two ends of said bow and passing through saidslots and cross opening, and means"for holding and releasing saidplunger at the rear end of said barrel.

JAMES E. CARLSON.

